S04E05. Acne Burnout: Why You’re Exhausted From Trying to Clear Your Skin (And What Helps)

Savannah's been dealing with acne since middle school. She's tried Proactiv, prescription topicals, birth control, esthetician peels, and literally everything the internet told her to try. So when she says this journey changed her life... she means it. In this episode, Savannah joins Katie and Cris to get real about what six months of inside-out skin work actually looked like, and spoiler: the biggest shifts had nothing to do with skincare.In this episode:Why doing "all the things" (we're talking whole food plant-based, clean supplements, monthly peels) still wasn't cutting it, and what was actually going on beneath the surface.The wild connection between unprocessed trauma, a calcium shell on your HTMA, and why your skin won't budge, no matter how clean you're eating.How three back-to-back cycles with zero breast tenderness and manageable periods showed up after years of debilitating PMDD, without the pill or an SSRI.The real reason Savannah kept putting it off, and the mindset shift that finally made her say "okay, let's do this" (hint: it wasn't just about the money).What "cocooning" actually looks like in real life, and why the emotional work might just be the most important part of your whole skin journey.Let's ConnectCome hang out with Katie on Instagram.Ready to go deeper? Explore courses, testing, and programs here.Grab the free Gut Loving Cheat Sheet here. Get direct access to Katie and Cris with monthly live calls and ongoing Q&A support inside The Wellness Community. Get all the details at katiestewartwellness.com/courses.

If you've ever felt like you're doing everything "right" but still can't lose weight, clear your skin, or feel like yourself again - this episode is for you. Katie and Cris sit down with Elizabeth Aylor, a certified strength and conditioning specialist and functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner, to dig into what's actually going on beneath the surface. Spoiler: it's probably not a calorie problem.What Katie & Cris break down in today's episode:Why extreme elimination diets like carnivore don't fix the root cause - they just remove the symptom temporarily.How mold toxicity could be the hidden reason you're not losing weight, sleeping well, or feeling like yourself.The thyroid testing gap most doctors miss - and why your labs might look "normal" when they're really not.Why eating more food (not less) helped over 2,000 of Elizabeth's clients lose 5 to 40 pounds in 90 days.The mindset shift that changed everything for Elizabeth - and why believing you can't get better might be keeping you stuck.If this episode resonated, we'd love it if you left a rating or review. It helps more people find the podcast, and we're really grateful you're listening.-------------------------Follow Elizabeth Aylor:YouTube: https://youtube.com/@elizabethaaylorfitnessInstagram: https://instagram.com/elizabethaaylorfitness-------------------------Follow Katie on InstagramWork with us inside The Clear Skin SolutionGrab the free Gut Loving Cheat Sheet Get direct access to Katie and Cris with monthly live calls and ongoing Q&A support inside The Wellness Community. Get all the details at katiestewartwellness.com/courses.

If you’ve been feeling like you need a second mortgage just to fix your skin, you’re not alone. In this episode, we’re getting honest about why wellness feels so expensive and what you actually need to focus on first. Because clear skin shouldn’t feel unattainable.What Katie & Cris break down in today’s episode:• The hidden costs of holistic care - and why it feels so personal.• Why skipping foundations keeps backfiring on your acne journey.• The mindset shifts that can change your results fast.• How fear of food and flare-ups keeps you stuck.• What affordable, high-value support can actually look like.If this episode resonated, we’d love it if you left a rating or review. It helps more people find the podcast, and we’re really grateful you’re listening.If you’re done spinning your wheels, this is your next step.Set your foundations and join us in Clearer Skin in 30 Days  Get direct access to Katie and Cris with monthly live calls and ongoing Q&A support inside The Wellness Community. Get all the details at katiestewartwellness.com/courses.

You can eat all the "clean" food in the world and still break out. If you've been doing everything right with your diet but your skin isn't improving, this episode is for you. Katie and Cris are breaking down what actually matters when it comes to skin nutrition, and spoiler: it's not just about eating organic.What Katie & Cris break down in today's episode:Why your body doesn't care how clean your diet is if you're not digesting it properly.The real reason stomach acid matters more than you think, and what happens when you're low.How poor fat digestion could be causing congestion around your temples and messing with your hormones.Why zinc supplements aren't the answer, even though the internet says they are.What magnesium actually does beyond helping you sleep, and why coffee drinkers need more of it.If this episode resonated, we'd love it if you left a rating or review. It helps more people find the podcast, and we're really grateful you're listening.What We MentionedFunctional Nutrition Skin Institute (Code KATIE saves 10%)Let's ConnectFollow Katie on InstagramWork with us inside The Clear Skin SolutionGrab the free Gut Loving Cheat Sheet Get direct access to Katie and Cris with monthly live calls and ongoing Q&A support inside The Wellness Community. Get all the details at katiestewartwellness.com/courses.

If you're dealing with acne as an adult, you probably feel really alone in it. You scroll social media and see all these perfectly filtered faces and think something's wrong with you. But here's the thing: you're not the only one going through this. Hailey tried everything before finding what actually worked, and her story might just sound a lot like yours.Here’s a break down in today's episode:Why Hailey's intermittent fasting routine was actually backfiring and how eating more throughout the day helped her skin, digestion, and those binge eating patterns she thought she had.How her HTMA revealed she was way more stressed than she realized, even though she didn't feel stressed at all.Why one gut protocol wasn't enough and how multiple rounds of testing showed what her body really needed.The moment she realized she didn't have to control everything and could actually trust the process and her support team.All the unexpected byproducts of her acne journey that changed way more than just her skin.If this episode resonated, we'd love it if you left a rating or review. It helps more people find the podcast, and we're really grateful you're listening.Follow Hailey Rowe:Instagram: https://instagram.com/hailey_roweWebsite: https://haileyrowe.comLet's ConnectFollow Katie on InstagramWork with us inside The Clear Skin SolutionGrab the free Gut Loving Cheat Sheet Get direct access to Katie and Cris with monthly live calls and ongoing Q&A support inside The Wellness Community. Get all the details at katiestewartwellness.com/courses.

Katie and Cris talk about acne burnout, the part of the acne journey no one really prepares you for. The phase where you’ve done enough diets, supplements, and skincare changes that your body isn’t the only thing tired, your motivation is too.This episode breaks down why chronic acne feels so heavy emotionally, why constant change creates more confusion than clarity, and how to move forward without falling into the overcorrect-or-avoid cycle.In this episode, we cover:Why wanting clear skin and feeling exhausted can coexist.How acne burnout quietly impacts confidence, dating, work, and daily decisions.Why skin often reacts last and what that means for your expectations.The signals your body gives before acne shifts, and why they’re easy to miss.How fewer, steadier inputs reduce spirals and make progress feel safer.If this episode resonated, we’d love it if you left a rating or review. It helps more people find the podcast, and we’re really grateful you’re listening.Let's ConnectApply to work with us in The Clear Skin Solution, here.Download The Gut Loving Cheat Sheet, here.Follow Katie on Instagram, here. Get direct access to Katie and Cris with monthly live calls and ongoing Q&A support inside The Wellness Community. Get all the details at katiestewartwellness.com/courses.

January has this magical ability to make us think we’re going to reinvent our whole life by Monday. New workouts, new meals, new skin routine, new everything.In this episode, Katie sits down with client and personal trainer Elizabeth Fitzpatrick for a crossover convo on why the fitness journey and the acne journey are basically the same. You start strong, hit a plateau or flare, then panic-reset and end up back at square one.They talk mindset, timelines, nervous system support, and why coaching is often the missing piece when you’re doing “all the right things” but can’t stay consistent.In this episode, we cover:Why plateaus and flares trigger the “I need a new plan” spiral.Elizabeth’s story - symptoms since childhood, birth control fallout, and feeling like an imposter in a fitness career.The surprising progress that shows up first - anxiety calming down, feeling more grounded, and nervous system shifts.Why you can’t coach yourself, even if you’re educated and motivated.How coaching gives reassurance, better expectations, and a plan you don’t keep restarting.Let's ConnectApply to work with us in The Clear Skin Solution, here.Download The Gut Loving Cheat Sheet, here.Follow Katie on Instagram, here. Get direct access to Katie and Cris with monthly live calls and ongoing Q&A support inside The Wellness Community. Get all the details at katiestewartwellness.com/courses.

Ever catch yourself thinking, “I’ve tried everything. Skincare. Diets. Supplements. Tests. And nothing is changing.”You’re not alone, and you’re not imagining it.In this episode, Katie and Cris break down why adult acne can feel so defeating when you’ve already done all the “right” things. From dermatology routes to functional testing to internet nutrition advice, they talk about why progress often stalls, even when effort is high, and what usually gets missed along the way.This conversation pulls apart the belief that you’re out of options and reframes what “nothing is working” actually means.In this episode, we cover:Why trying everything doesn’t mean you’ve tried what your body actually needs.How “healthy eating” can quietly turn into yo-yo dieting for acne.The patterns food journals reveal that Instagram advice doesn’t catch.Why piling on supplements can slow progress instead of speeding it up.What AI and generic protocols can’t replace when it comes to acne clarity.If you’ve been stuck in trial-and-error mode and wondering what you’re missing, this episode brings a lot of light to the confusion.Let's ConnectApply to work with us in The Clear Skin Solution, here.Download The Gut Loving Cheat Sheet, here.Follow Katie on Instagram, here. Get direct access to Katie and Cris with monthly live calls and ongoing Q&A support inside The Wellness Community. Get all the details at katiestewartwellness.com/courses.

Living with IBS, Crohn’s, or colitis can feel incredibly isolating, especially when you’re doing “all the right things” and still not getting answers. In this episode of Keep It Clear, Katie and Cris sit down with Dane Johnson, holistic nutritionist and founder of Crohn’s Colitis Lifestyle, to talk about what actually keeps gut symptoms stuck for so many people. Dane shares his own near-death experience with Crohn’s and colitis, how years of medications and conflicting diagnoses pushed him to look deeper, and why healing often requires strategy, patience, and the right support, not more restriction. If you’ve been dismissed, overwhelmed, or told this is “just how it is,” this conversation will feel deeply validating.--In this episode, we get into:The real differences between IBS and IBD, and why so many people are mislabelled or under-investigatedDane’s personal story with severe Crohn’s and colitis, including multiple diagnoses and nearly losing his life in his twentiesHow hidden triggers like viral reactivation, mold exposure, and infections can keep inflammation turned onWhy constantly changing diets and supplements creates confusion instead of clarity, and how sequencing changes everythingWhy progress is often quiet before it’s visible, and how building a personalized plan helps you respond to setbacks without panic--Connect with DaneInstagram | @danejohnson1 +  @crohnscolitis_lifestyle Website | https://crohnscolitislifestyle.com/--Let's ConnectApply to work with us in The Clear Skin Solution, here.Download The Gut Loving Cheat Sheet, here.Follow Katie on Instagram, here. Get direct access to Katie and Cris with monthly live calls and ongoing Q&A support inside The Wellness Community. Get all the details at katiestewartwellness.com/courses.

Adult acne can feel extra defeating when you’ve been dealing with it for years and nothing seems to work. In this Client Spotlight episode, Haley shares her long history with PCOS, cystic acne, and birth control, and how committing to one full year of healing completely changed her relationship with her body. After years of prescriptions, restrictive diets, and feeling dismissed, she finally stopped chasing quick fixes and started addressing what was actually driving her symptoms. If you’re feeling stuck, exhausted, or unsure what else to try, this conversation will feel incredibly validating.In this episode, we get into:Why adult acne after birth control often shows up years later, not overnight.What changed when Haley gave herself a full year to focus on healing instead of rushing results.How using a Hair Trace Mineral Analysis (HTMA) uncovered root imbalances that bloodwork never flagged.The emotional side of acne recovery, food fear, flares, anxiety, and learning to trust her body again.The unexpected wins that came before clear skin, from digestion and energy to hair regrowth.Let's ConnectApply to work with us in The Clear Skin Solution, here.Download The Gut Loving Cheat Sheet, here.Follow Katie on Instagram, here. Get direct access to Katie and Cris with monthly live calls and ongoing Q&A support inside The Wellness Community. Get all the details at katiestewartwellness.com/courses.